W. TEMPLE

liETTRE HCCIiXIlL

Sir W. Temple au Prince â^ Orange. Traité entre VAngleterre et les Étate-Généraux.

London, 18 Jao. 1678.

May ît please your Highnesse. No man could bee more obliged then I was by the honor and kindeness of your Highnesses last letter, wherein you were pleased to complaine of my not going over with the project which M' Thinne carryed and to expect some good reasons for my excuse. I had but too many, whîch were very ill health at that time, a necessity of attending some afiairs fallen then upon mee by my fathers death, and besides, to say truth, a dislike of such a projects beeing drawne in to paper, because I knew it would bee impossible for your Highnesse to conclude it in forme and yet keepe it secret, and that, when it came to bee knowne, it would loose your Highnesse and the States the confidence of severall of your Allys and a good deal of crédit perhaps with them ail; so that I thought it was to putt a great straine upon your Highness , without encreasing the strength of those measures which had been taken before between His Majesty and your Highness upon the same occasion. And, for my parte, I hâve alwaies thought there was nothing to bee done for His Majesty but , either to keepe out of the warre , or else to goe into it in con-

1678. Janvier.] — 362 —

junction wîth the whole confederacy , which I beleeve will be no more then needs, considering how late wee bave fallen into thees coansels. I am apt to thinke tbat tbe whole warr dépends apon Toarnaj^ so farr as tbat Condé would bee gîven in the condition tis ' now in , wbîch they saj bas been made with vast expence one of the very best places of the whole provinces. But they seem resolate beere to abate nothing of tbe proposai!, and the Duke the most of anj man in this opinion, and rather inclined now to refuse the peace npon the very tearms proposed then to accept it npon lesse. If yoor Highnesse bears thees conjectures from no other bande, you will pleas to take no notice of them, though I should bee glad to know your Highnes opinion upon them and what you thinks the Spaniards would [beej ; since you can judge best on that side, where you best know the présent condition of Flanders and what hopes or dispaire there may bee .of keeping it, till wee can corne into tbe game with a good stake. For, if Ypre, Dixmude and Nieuport shoold bee lost, wee should bave such an aftergame to play as would very hardly bee recoverd, and the conduct of the Spaniards seems not onely to leave them but Ostende it^ self in danger. I wish His Majesty and your HUgbnesse in this conjunction both the wisest counsels and the bappyest fortunes you can propose to yourselves, and shall ever bee, with perfect dévotion and truth, Sir,

your Highnesses most faithfull and most obedient humble servant,